Folarin Balogun became the first USMNT player to score a brace in a Champions League knockout game during Monaco’s 3-2 first-leg loss to PSG.
USMNT striker Folarin Balogun shattered multiple records during Monaco’s Champions League knockout clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
The 24-year-old opened the scoring within the first minute, marking the fastest goal by an American in competition history.
He later doubled his tally, becoming the first USMNT player to score twice in a Champions League knockout match and setting a new single-season scoring record for Americans.
Despite Balogun’s historic brace, PSG rallied with three unanswered goals to take a lead into the second leg.
The performance solidifies Balogun as the frontrunner for Mauricio Pochettino’s starting lineup ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
While the result favored the visitors, the Arsenal academy graduate’s display was described as the “best-ever individual Champions League season by a USMNT player,” surpassing previous milestones.